Jun.23.2010

Today,Olympic Day will be celebrated all around the world: hundreds of thousands of people – young and old – participate in sports activities, such as runs, exhibitions, music and educational seminars. Over the last two decades, the event has helped to spread the Olympic ideals to every corner of the world.

Olympic Day was introduced in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on 23 June 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris. The goal was to promote participation in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.

Over the last 20 years Olympic Day has been associated with Olympic Day Runs all over the world. From 45 participating National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in the first edition in 1987, the numbers have grown to nearly 200 participating NOCs.

Olympic Day is nowadays developing into much more than just a sports event. Based on the three pillars “move”, “learn” and “discover”, National Olympic Committees are deploying sports, cultural and educational activities. Some countries have incorporated the event into the school curriculum and, in recent years, many NOCs have added concerts and exhibitions to the celebration. Recent NOC activities have included meetings for children and young people with top athletes and the development of new web sites directing people to programmes in their neighborhood.

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee( TTOC) will join with NOCs around the world in celebrating Olympic day today. However TTOC activities will be held on Saturday at the King George V Park from 10 am.

TTOC president Larry Romany believes that with the attention of the sporting world focused on the FIFA World Cup in South Africa it is important to take time to reflect on the Olympic values of fair play,tolerance and the joy found in effort.

" Sport is a universal language that can be used to foster peace,harmony and understanding . While there will always be negative controversies and moments. It is important to remind ourselves that at the end of the day sport is fun and enjoyment. It is about children,young men and women,the elderly,adults living a healthy and active lifestyle .It is not only about the business of sport but also about unity and harmony. At the TTOC we always look forward to the 23 June as it brings us back to our roots and core values." said Romany.

Romany made the observation that when one considers the number of projects and activities that the TTOC is currently undertaking it is very easy to lose perspective.

"As we expand our reach and organisation. Keeping the vision and mission of Olympism and the Olympic movement at the forefront of what we do and why we do things remains a priority." added Romany of what we do cannot be taken for granted."